How to develop an oral presentation

1. How to develop an oral presentation You have one chance to make a point.

2. Reference • http://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/effective.html • “The standards for public speaking in science and academia are relatively low, so a good presentation often is memorable”.

3. What is an oral presentation? • It is a condensed version of the paper. • It is organized around one TOPIC. A TOPIC is a clear statement of aproblem. • It has logic (a string of topics), little text, and clear graphics. • It tells a story with graphs, tables and pictures.

4. An oral presentation • Follows the IMRAD convention: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results and Discussion • Tells a story. Its characters act along string of topics linked together from beginning to end.

5. Planning • What is expected of the presentation? informal chat or formal presentation literature survey or new information • Who is the audience? experts in the field, technical public or general public • How much time?

6. Preparation • Use one clear statement of the problem, THE TOPIC, the one sentence that will catch the attention of the audience. • Use the accepted structure: IMRAD • Organize your points from the most to the least important. The retention of information by the audience gets smaller as you talk.

7. Preparation • Use short sentences with simple grammar. • Outline the concepts briefly, clearly, and early in the talk. Assume that you have an unfamiliar audience. • Only use the most important concepts. What visual aids go with them?

8. Graphs, tables, figures • Only use those that support your POINT. • Communicate relationships early. • Use simple two dimensional charts. • Minimize the text;use photos. make them simple and clean. write explanations directly into the graphic.

9. Four important design concepts • BIG • Simple • Clear • Consistent

10. BIG design Expand the text until it occupies all the computer screen then stand 2 meters away from the screen. A person in the back of the audience can also read the text.

11. Simple design • Create new slides for the presentation. • Only use the concepts essential to the TOPIC. • When you put up a new slide allow5 seconds for the audience to absorb the information. Be quiet and then speak what the slide has to say. Be brief.

12. Simple design • Your TOPIC limits the text and restricts the contents of tables or graphs. • Your TOPIC Includes only the information that supports it.

13. Clear design • The audience has to be able to read your visualin 5 seconds • For the text: Choose a font SANSARIF Select a size from 36-48 points Use a mixture of upper and lower case Use 10% background color

14. Consistent design • Begin and end the presentation with an identical pair of slides that summarize the TOPIC. At the beginning it is the outline. At the end it is your summary; you finished the story you promised to tell.

15. The end • The audience remembers little. Begin well … and end well; In between is forgotten. • Prepare a great summary: The audience needs to remember the message from your TOPIC.

16. Some practical elements • Rate: About 100 words per minute. Use pauses, and repeat critical information. • Opening: Immediately catch the audience’s interest and attention. • Transitions: Make the relation between successive elements clear to the audience, lead them trough your talk.

17. Some practical elements • Conclusion: Summarize the main concepts. Signal that the summary is beginning ("In summary, ...”). • Length: Don't run over! Ever! Shorten by removing detail. • Questions: Always leave time for questions.

18. Practice, practice, practice • Practice: A minimum of 10 practice runs. How does the talk flow? • Practice all parts. Practice starting from the beginning, the middle and the end. • Your presentation is important, treat it that way.

19. Presentation • BEFOREyou depart for the conference! • Is the software compatible with the host’s? • Do you have all the files and resources? • Back-up your presentation with an alternate medium, e-mail it to yourself, or e-mail it to your host for testing.

20. Presentation • Technology fails. The embarrassment is greater for the host. You impress the host when you have an alternate solution to the problem. • Is there a sound system? How loud? • What will you do if you have no AV?

21. The presentation • Take several deep breaths as you are being introduced. • Speak naturally at a moderate rate and use automatic, moderate gestures. • Concentrate on the projection screen.

22. The presentation • Converse with your audience. Involve them with questions and making eye contact. If you ask a question wait for the answer. • Keep an eye on your time. Don't run over your limit. Ever! • Be prepared for interruptions.

23. The presentation • If you have to apologize, you did not do your job; don’t apologize. • Give yourself and others credit for your own work. If you use borrowed slides give credit the people right on that slide. • Don't criticize aspects of the trip, city, facilities, etc.

24. Handling questions • Include a Question & Answer slide (Q&A slide) at the end. • Keep it in the background as you answer questions from the audience. • Select the TOPIC images from your slides, fit them on the Q&A slide in view of the audience as the session goes on.

25. Handling questions • Repeat each question to the audience. • If you are unsure, say the question again or ask: “Would you mind clarifying?” • Take a moment to reflect on the question. • During the talk, answer questions immediately if it clarifies a problem.

26. Handling questions • “I don’t know.” is an answer.Don't apologize. Ask for suggestions from the audience. • Finish question by asking the person if the question was answered. • Avoid prolonged discussions with one person.Settle it in a private discussion.

27. An oral presentation • Is a condensed version of the paper. • Is organized around one TOPIC – A clear statement of aproblem. • Has logic (a string of topics), little text, and clear graphics. • It tells a story with graphs tables and pictures.

28. rescom.rmutl.ac.th ??? Drrainer@rmutl.ac.th